The Tree of Life Sources of Jewish History and Law MIDRASH Interpretation of the Bible often in the form of a running commentary on the Bible text. Midrash Halakhah Seeks to clarify or explain specific Torah laws.

AHARONIM All commentators and interpreters after Joseph Karo 1575-YOU!

RISHONIM Sages of the Jewish communities in Europe during the Medieval Period Commentaries Rabbi Sh’lomo Yitzhaki (Rashi) – 11th century The Tosafists 12th and 13th centuries

Codes Maimonides (Rambam) 12th cen.–Mishneh Torah Joseph Karo – 16th cen. – Shulkhan Arukh

RESPONSA Letters written by scholars in response to questions posed by distant communities, responsa continues to be written today. The process of Responsa started in the Geonic period.

GEONIM Midrash Aggadah Encompasses all non-legal explanations.

Leaders of the scholarly academies in Babylonia 500-1000 C.E.

TALMUD GEMARA Babylonian

Jerusalem

Compiled around 499 C.E.

Compiled around 390 C.E.

A compilation of the discussions on the Mishnah by the Amoraim (explainers/interpreters)

MISHNAH

TOSEFTA A separate collection of orally transmitted explanations of the law.

Compiled by Judah Ha-Nasi around 200 C.E., the Mishnah is a compilation of the writings of the Tanna’im (teachers.) It includes 63 masechtot (tractates) divided into 6 sedarim (orders.)

TANAKH According to tradition, the Tanakh was dictated to Moses by God in the year 1200 B.C.E. It consists of the Torah, the Nevi’im, and the Ketuvim. The Torah consists of the 5 books of Moses while there are 21 books of Nevi’im (Prophets) and 13 of Ketuvim (Writings.)